Thai Festivals and Public Holidays: A Year-Round Guide for Expat Retirees (2027 Dates)

Thailand's calendar is full of festivals, from the Songkran water fights in April to the floating lights of Loy Krathong in November. For a retiree, they're one of the best parts of living here, but they also close banks and government offices, ban alcohol sales on some days, push up hotel prices and, at Songkran and New Year, make the roads more dangerous. This guide covers the main festivals and public holidays, with 2027 dates where they've been officially published and the usual month where they haven't.

This is general information, not advice. Lunar dates move every year and event programmes change, so check official announcements before you book.

Quick reference

Month (2027)	Festival or holiday	Best places	Notes
1 January	Western New Year's Day	Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, Hua Hin	Bank and public holiday (31 December is also a holiday). Busy roads either side
Late Jan or Feb	Chinese New Year	Bangkok's Yaowarat (Chinatown), Phuket Old Town	Not a national holiday, except some southern provinces
21 February (holiday 22 Feb)	Makha Bucha	Any temple	Buddhist holy day. Alcohol-sale ban
13 to 15 April	Songkran (Thai New Year)	Chiang Mai, Bangkok; everywhere	Three-day holiday. Heavy travel and road-safety warnings
4 May	Coronation Day	Nationwide	Bank holiday, part of a 1 to 4 May long weekend in 2027
20 May	Visakha Bucha	Any temple	Buddhist holy day. Alcohol-sale ban
Late May to early June	Hua Hin Jazz City Event	Hua Hin	2027 dates not yet announced
18 July (holiday 19 July)	Asahna Bucha, then Khao Phansa (start of Buddhist Lent)	Any temple	Alcohol-sale bans on both days
28 July	H.M. the King's Birthday	Nationwide	Bank and public holiday
12 August	Queen Mother's Birthday / Mother's Day	Nationwide	Bank and public holiday
Sep or Oct	Vegetarian Festival	Phuket; also Bangkok, Trang and others	Nine days, Chinese lunar calendar
October	Ok Phansa (end of Buddhist Lent)	Any temple	Alcohol-sale ban; 2027 date not yet officially listed
November	Loy Krathong / Yi Peng	Chiang Mai, Sukhothai, Bangkok; local rivers and ponds	Full moon of the 12th Thai month
5 December (holiday 6 Dec)	King Bhumibol's Birthday, National Day, Father's Day	Nationwide	Bank and public holiday

Public holidays in 2027: when banks and offices close

The Bank of Thailand has published the 2027 bank holidays (Notification No. 37/2569). There are 18:

• 1 January New Year's Day
• 22 February substitute for Makha Bucha (Sunday 21 February)
• 6 April Chakri Memorial Day
• 13, 14 and 15 April Songkran
• 3 May substitute for National Labour Day (Saturday 1 May)
• 4 May Coronation Day
• 20 May Visakha Bucha
• 3 June H.M. Queen Suthida's Birthday
• 19 July substitute for Asahna Bucha (Sunday 18 July)
• 28 July H.M. King Maha Vajiralongkorn's Birthday
• 12 August H.M. Queen Sirikit the Queen Mother's Birthday Anniversary and Mother's Day
• 13 October King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great Memorial Day
• 25 October substitute for Chulalongkorn Memorial Day (Saturday 23 October)
• 6 December substitute for King Bhumibol's Birthday, National Day and Father's Day (Sunday 5 December)
• 10 December Constitution Day
• 31 December New Year's Eve

What closes: banks close on these days. Government offices, including immigration offices, generally close on public holidays too, and some government-only holidays aren't bank holidays. For example, the TAT holiday list for 2026 shows Khao Phansa and the Royal Ploughing Ceremony as government-office holidays only.

Retiree checklist:

• 90-day reports and extensions: if your due date is close to a long weekend or Songkran, don't leave it to the last day. Check whether you can file online, and see our 90-day reporting guide and retirement extension guide.
• Money: if you need a bank letter or an in-branch transfer, do it before a long weekend. Allow extra days for international transfers to arrive around Thai bank holidays.
• Travel: long weekends are when Thais travel. Book hotels and buses early, and expect higher prices in beach towns close to Bangkok, such as Hua Hin and Pattaya.

Songkran (Thai New Year): 13 to 15 April

When: 13 to 15 April every year. In 2027 they're Tuesday to Thursday, so the official break doesn't join a weekend, but many people take the whole week off.

What happens: Songkran is the traditional Thai New Year. Families gather, people make merit at temples and pour scented water over Buddha images, and younger people pour water over the hands of elders to show respect and ask for their blessing. In towns and tourist areas it's also a huge water fight. TAT promotes events nationwide, including the Maha Songkran World Water Festival in Bangkok.

Etiquette:

• Expect to get wet if you go out. Put your phone and wallet in a waterproof pouch.
• Be gentle with water on monks, elderly people, babies and people who clearly aren't joining in.
• Don't throw water at motorcyclists or drivers; it causes crashes.
• Dress modestly at temple ceremonies, even though it's hot.

Practical notes:

• Road safety: Thailand tracks road deaths over the "seven dangerous days" around Songkran. In 2026 the count was 242 deaths and 1,200 injuries between 10 and 16 April, with motorcycles involved in about two-thirds of crashes. If you can, avoid driving, especially at night, and never drink and drive.
• Crowds and prices: buses, trains and flights are packed as people travel home, and beach towns fill up. Book early.
• Closures: banks and government offices close for the three days. Many small businesses close for longer.
• If you'd rather avoid it: some retirees stay home or in a quiet area. The water play is concentrated in town centres and tourist streets.

Loy Krathong and Yi Peng: November

When: Loy Krathong falls on the full moon of the 12th Thai lunar month, usually in November. In 2026, Chiang Mai province confirmed its Yi Peng festival for 23 to 25 November. The official 2027 date hadn't been published when we checked, so confirm it closer to the time.

What happens: people float a krathong (a small raft, traditionally made of banana leaves and flowers, with a candle and incense) on rivers, canals and ponds to give thanks to the water goddess and let go of bad luck. Yi Peng is the northern (Lanna) festival held on the same full moon, best known for sky lanterns (khom loi) in Chiang Mai.

Etiquette:

• Choose a biodegradable krathong (banana trunk, leaves, bread) rather than foam.
• Lantern releases are regulated: Chiang Mai sets specific release times and Bangkok has banned them. Only release lanterns where and when it's allowed.
• At temple events, be respectful and keep to marked areas.

Practical notes: Chiang Mai hotels fill up and prices rise around Yi Peng, so book well ahead. Lantern releases have disrupted flights at Chiang Mai airport in past years. Read our Chiang Mai guide if you're thinking of spending the season there. Hua Hin and other towns hold their own, smaller Loy Krathong events.

Western New Year: 31 December and 1 January

Both New Year's Eve and New Year's Day are bank and public holidays. Expect countdown events and fireworks in Bangkok and the resort towns, high hotel prices and busy roads. Like Songkran, the New Year period is one of Thailand's "dangerous days" road-safety campaigns, so take the same care on the road.

Chinese New Year: late January or February

When: set by the Chinese lunar calendar. In 2026 it was 17 February. It isn't a national holiday, although banks in Narathiwat, Pattani, Yala, Satun and Songkhla close for it.

What happens: Thailand has a large Thai-Chinese community, and Bangkok's Yaowarat (Chinatown) holds the biggest celebrations, with lion dances, red lanterns, food stalls and offerings at shrines. Phuket Old Town and other towns with Chinese heritage also celebrate.

Practical notes: Yaowarat gets extremely crowded, so go early and use public transport. Some Chinese-owned shops and restaurants close for a few days.

The Buddhist holy days and Buddhist Lent

Three full-moon days are national holidays:

• Makha Bucha: Sunday 21 February 2027 (holiday Monday 22 February)
• Visakha Bucha: Thursday 20 May 2027, which marks the Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death
• Asahna Bucha: Sunday 18 July 2027 (holiday Monday 19 July), marking the Buddha's first sermon

The day after Asahna Bucha is Khao Phansa, the start of the three-month Buddhist Lent (the monks' rains retreat). It ends with Ok Phansa, usually in October. The 2027 Ok Phansa date isn't on the bank holiday list, so check it nearer the time.

What happens: people make merit, give alms to monks and join evening candlelit processions (wian tian) around the temple's main hall. Many Thais avoid alcohol during Lent.

Alcohol-sale bans: selling alcohol is banned for 24 hours on all five days (Makha Bucha, Visakha Bucha, Asahna Bucha, Khao Phansa and Ok Phansa) under a 2025 Prime Minister's Office notification. There are exemptions for international airport terminals, licensed hotels, licensed entertainment venues, similar venues in designated tourist areas, and approved large events. Shops, convenience stores, supermarkets and ordinary restaurants must stop selling. The penalty is up to six months in prison, a fine of up to ฿10,000, or both. If you want wine with dinner, buy it the day before.

Etiquette: you're welcome to join a candle procession. Wear modest clothing that covers your shoulders and knees, walk quietly, and follow what the people around you do.

Royal holidays

The 2027 royal holidays are Chakri Memorial Day (6 April), Coronation Day (4 May), Queen Suthida's Birthday (3 June), the King's Birthday (28 July), the Queen Mother's Birthday and Mother's Day (12 August), King Bhumibol Memorial Day (13 October), Chulalongkorn Memorial Day (23 October, holiday 25 October) and King Bhumibol's Birthday, National Day and Father's Day (5 December, holiday 6 December).

What happens: you'll see portraits, flags and decorations on public buildings and roads, and ceremonies at government offices. Some people wear a colour associated with the occasion.

Etiquette: the monarchy is deeply respected in Thailand and protected by strict laws. Stand when the royal anthem is played (for example, before films in cinemas), and avoid any remark or action that could be seen as disrespectful.

The Vegetarian Festival: September or October

When: nine days from the first to the ninth night of the ninth Chinese lunar month. In 2026, TAT listed the Phuket Vegetarian Festival as 10 to 18 October. Dates move each year.

What happens: Phuket's Hokkien Chinese community honours the Nine Emperor Gods with shrine ceremonies, street processions, fire-walking and bridge-crossing rituals, and devotees keep to vegetarian (jay) food. Look for yellow flags with red lettering marking jay food stalls. Bangkok, Trang, Nakhon Sawan and other towns hold their own festivals.

Practical notes: the processions are loud, with lots of firecrackers. Some rituals involve self-piercing, which can be confronting. Bring earplugs, keep a distance from the firecrackers, and follow official route information.

Hua Hin events

Hua Hin's biggest regular music event is its jazz festival. In 2026 it ran as the Hua Hin Jazz City Event, 29 May to 1 June, with performances at more than 40 venues around town rather than on one beach stage. The 2027 dates hadn't been announced when we checked. VIC Hua Hin, an arts venue on Petchkasem Road, hosts performances and festivals through the year; check its listings.

Hua Hin also marks the national festivals, including Songkran and Loy Krathong, with local events. Its long weekends are busy because it's a popular escape for Bangkok residents. See our Hua Hin guide for more on living there.

What we couldn't verify

• 2027 Loy Krathong and Yi Peng dates: not officially published when we checked. Some sites give 13 or 14 November 2027.
• 2027 Ok Phansa and Khao Phansa as government holidays: these aren't bank holidays, and we didn't find an official 2027 government-office list.
• 2027 Chinese New Year and Vegetarian Festival dates: set by the Chinese lunar calendar. Check TAT nearer the time.
• 2027 Hua Hin jazz festival dates and format.
• Alcohol-ban exemptions in your town: whether a particular bar or restaurant qualifies depends on its licence and designated zones. Assume ordinary shops won't sell.